Cradling/packaging device for portable terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a cradling/packaging device for a portable terminal combining a function of safely storing the portable terminal in a packaging box and a function of cradling the portable terminal with a slant, the cradling/packaging device including a first packaging member having a first slot formed on an upper surface and a second packaging member having a second slot formed on an upper surface so as to receive the portable terminal together with the first packaging member, the second packaging member being rotatably connected to the first packaging member so as to cradle the received portable terminal with a slant together with the first packaging member.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to an application entitled “Cradling/Packaging Device for Portable Terminal” filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 3, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 2006-10656, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a portable terminal, including a Digital Multimedia Broadcast (DMB) phone, a game phone, a chatting phone, a camera phone, an MP3 phone, a cellular phone, a Personal Communication System (PCS), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), and a Hand Held Phone (HHP), and in particular, to a cradling/packaging device for a portable terminal having both cradling and packaging functions.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, portable terminals tend to be increasingly more compact, slim, and light, in order to facilitate improved portability. Furthermore, portable terminals increasingly tend to incorporate more functions in light of growing availability of multimedia services. As such, future portable terminals are expected to be even more compact, slim, and light and have greater multi-functionality and multi-purpose availability. In addition, future portable terminals will be modified to be suitable for various multimedia or Internet environments.

Conventional portable terminals may be classified into various categories according to their appearance, such as bar-type portable terminals, flip-type portable terminals, and folder-type portable terminals. Portable terminals may also be classified into neck wearable type portable terminals and wrist wearable type portable terminals according to the position or way in which users put on the portable terminals. In addition, portable terminals may be classified into rotation-type portable terminals and sliding-type portable terminals according to the manner of opening and closing the portable terminals. Meanwhile, portable terminals now tend to transmit data at a much higher speed in addition to a basic voice communication function. In other words, according to increased consumer demands, recent portable terminals provide services using a wireless communication technology capable of transmitting data at a much higher speed.

When a user purchases a portable terminal at a store, the terminal is packaged in a separate box. Such a packaging device is regarded as expendable and, once the terminal is purchased, is discarded. This is because the packaging device for a portable terminal, including the box, has been considered to be nothing more than a disposable item.

Meanwhile, a separate cradle is purchased and used to cradle the portable terminal so that the user can watch mobile images, for example, displayed on the terminal in a comfortable position.

However, disposal of the packaging device is contrary to the current trend towards recycling. Furthermore, purchase of the cradle for the purpose of watching mobile images in a comfortable position is uneconomical.

In summary, the present invention has been proposed for the sake of recycling and economic advantages to users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cradling/packaging device for a portable terminal having both cradling and packaging functions so that there is an economic advantage in that purchase of a separate cradle becomes unnecessary.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cradling/packaging device adapted to reuse a packaging device, which has been conventionally discarded, as a cradle in conformity with the current trend towards recycling.

In order to accomplish these objects, there is provided a cradling/packaging device for a portable terminal combining a function of safely storing the portable terminal in a packaging box and a function of cradling the portable terminal with a slant, the cradling/packaging device including a first packaging member having a first slot formed on an upper surface and a second packaging member having a second slot formed on an upper surface so as to receive the portable terminal together with the first packaging member, the second packaging member being rotatably connected to the first packaging member so as to cradle the received portable terminal with a slant together with the first packaging member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cradling/packaging device according to the present invention, when contained in a box;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a packaging state of a cradling/packaging device according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing a cradling state of a cradling/packaging device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a cradling/packaging device according to the present invention, when storing a portable terminal; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a cradling/packaging device according to the present invention, when cradling a portable terminal with a slant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein is omitted to avoid making the subject matter of the present invention unclear.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6, a cradling/packaging device 10 according to the present invention combines a function of safely storing a portable terminal 20 in a packaging box 30 with a function of cradling the portable terminal 20 with a slant. Particularly, FIG. 1 shows the cradling/packaging device 10 when receiving the portable terminal 20 with the cover of the packaging box 30 being open, and FIG. 6 shows the cradling/packaging device 10 when cradling the portable terminal 20.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the cradling/packaging device 10 includes first and second packaging members 12 and 14. The second packaging member 14 is rotatably connected to the first packaging member 12 by a hinge device 15. FIGS. 3 and 4 show the second packaging member 14 when rotated about 90° so as to support the first packaging member 12. The first packaging member 12 has a first slot S1 formed on its upper surface. The first slot SI is shaped so that it receives a part of the portable terminal. In other words, the first slot S1 has a shape corresponding to that of the portable terminal. The second packaging member 14 has a second slot S2 formed on its upper surface. When the second packaging member 14 is flush with the first packaging member 12 (i.e. when there is no rotation of the second packaging member 14), the first and second slots S1 and S2 receive the portable terminal together. The combined shapes of the first and second slots S1 and S2 correspond to the shape of the portable terminal.

The first packaging member 12 is larger than the second packaging member 14, and the first slot S1 is larger than the second slot S2, so that the portable terminal can be cradled stably.

FIG. 2 shows the first and second packaging members 12 and 14 when they are flush with each other, and FIG. 3 shows the second packaging member 14 rotated and the first packaging member 12 supported with a slant. The first and second slots S1 and S2 spatially communicate with each other, in a state as shown in FIG. 2, and receive the entire portable terminal. The first and second slots S1 and S2 are spatially separated from each other, in a state as shown in FIG. 3, and the first slot S1 solely receives a part of the portable terminal.

A third slot S3 is positioned next to the first and second slots S1 and S2 and receives another portable terminal 40, which may be an earset having a Bluetooth module, for example.

The first and second packaging members 12 and 14 may be made of including, but not limited to, a synthetic resin or paper, which can be recycled. Although a conventional packaging device for packaging a portable terminal is a disposable item, the cradling/packaging device according to the present invention is recycled as a cradle.

Referring to FIG. 4, a guide protrusion 13 is positioned on a lateral surface of the first slot S1 and stably supports or retains the portable terminal, which is received in the first slot S1. In addition, a locking device (not shown) limits the rotation of the second packaging member 14. In a state as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the second packaging member 14 is locked at an angle of about 90°, and the first packaging member 12 is supported with a slant from behind.

Referring to FIG. 6, the first packaging member 12 is supported by the second packaging member 14 while being slanted, and the portable terminal 20 is safely received and cradled by the first slot S1 with a slant. In this state, the user can view data, particularly mobile images in a DMB mode, displayed on a display device 21 in a comfortable position. Furthermore, another portable terminal, e.g. a headset 40 having a Bluetooth module can be safely stored in the third slot S3 when not being used.

As mentioned above, the present invention is advantageous in that a packaging device for a portable terminal, which has been heretofore regarded as a disposable item, incorporates a cradling function so that no cradle needs to be purchased separately. The present invention has economic merit and conforms to the current trend towards recycling, because the packaging device is also used as a cradling device.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A cradling/packaging device for a portable terminal combining a function of safely storing the portable terminal in a packaging box and a function of cradling the portable terminal with a slant, the cradling/packaging device comprising: a first packaging member having a first slot formed on an upper surface; and a second packaging member having a second slot formed on an upper surface so as to receive the portable terminal together with the first packaging member, the second packaging member being rotatably connected to the first packaging member so as to cradle the received portable terminal with a slant together with the first packaging member.
 2. The cradling/packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second slots spatially communicate with each other, when the second packaging member is not rotated, and are spatially separated from each other, when the second packaging member is rotated.
 3. The cradling/packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first slot has at least one guide protrusion.
 4. The cradling/packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second packaging members are made of a synthetic resin.
 5. The cradling/packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first packaging member is larger than the second packaging member and the first slot is larger than the second slot to stably cradle the portable terminal.
 6. The cradling/packaging device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first slot solely receives the portable terminal when the second packaging member is rotated. 